Writing method section
The Method Section
Due date: November 13th, 2022
Assignment/Instructions
Recall from lab, that the Method section provides all the details for your proposed study. The Method section is specific and detailed. A reader should be able to replicate your study using only the information provided in this section.
Review the lecture from class for more detailed information about what a Method section consists of and what should be included under each subheading
Instructions: You are to write a complete Method section in enough detail so that someone else could replicate your study knowing only what is in your Method section.
The length of your method section will vary depending on how complex your proposed study design is, but you should have a minimum of 3 pages, double -spaced. Ultimately, you want your Method section to include everything you need to answer your research question.
Your Method section is to be typed in 11-point, Times New Roman font, Double-spaced, 1 inch margins, and formatted according to APA style guidelines:
Method should be in bold and centered on the page
Each subsection should be headed. The subheadings should be bolded and flush left to the page.
The following subheadings should be included in your Method section (see rubric for specifics for each section)
Participants – provides information about the participants involved in the study Design – describes the overall design of the study Procedure – details how the study was carried out in chronological order Measures – describes the measures and items used in the study and properly cites them
Note: Towards the end of the participant subsection, include the following statement: “All participants involved in the study gave informed consent and all procedures were approved by the University of Houston Institutional Review Board”
Towards the end of the procedure subsection, provide a statement on how participants were debriefed at the conclusion of the study.
Rubric
Grading Criteria Possible Points Participants Subsection
- How many participants in the study? How many in each group or condition? *You should have a minimum of 30 participants*
- How were participants recruited? From what populations? - What are the participants demographics (i.e. age, sex, ethnicity,
education level, etc.) - Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria? - Were participants compensated? - Statement of Informed Consent?
20 Points
Design Subsection - What were the variables? Clearly state them and how they are
operationally defined - What type of design was used? - Explain how the data will be analyzed. What scale was used? How are
the responses measured? What do the scores indicate? - What statistical test will you use to analyze the results?
20 Points
Procedure Subsection - State what happened in your study and to your participants in
chronological order - How were the participants selected and assigned to groups? - What was the typical time participants were in the study? - Statement on how participants were debriefed after the experiment
20 Points
Measures Subsection - What measures/tests/instruments did you use? Describe them along with
their appropriate citation o name of measure, its abbreviation, citation, description of what it
assesses, number of items (questions), subscales, what type of responses are possible, what do high or low scores indicate
- If information is available, mention their reliability and validity - if possible, include sample items
20 Points
Provided enough details, enough so that the study could be replicated 10 Points Correct APA formatting
- Method is centered and in bold - subsections are headed in bold and flush left to the page - 11-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced
10 Points
Total 100 Points